MON OF THE MONTH

Following on from a suggestion on the five rings list I got hold of an excellent book called Japanese Design Motifs (Dover Publications), with a collection of 4260 Japanese Mons. I'm allowed to reproduce them providing it's not for profit, and limited numbers.

My view of clans, is that there are the major clans, but within that division, lie smaller families. Thus, to outsiders everyone may be a member of the Crane Clan, but within the Crane clan there may be a hundred tiny families with their own Mon that they use to distinguish themselves (in this manner, they are similar to the Scottish Clans, where Clan Sinclair for example has other names within it, other than Sinclair).

I thus present a picture, and my ideas for what the clan members might be:

Mon of the Month I have a Dolphin Clan as a plot device - a small family that is part of the Crane clan: they are a small family that looks to the Crane for protection. They have an affinity for water, and their shugenja are known for communing with nature (dolphins etc), whilst their bushi are regarded as lucky companions, who if shipwrecked, seem to arouse the natural protection and help of Dolphins. Likewise, Dolphin ships never seem to be wrecked, or go hungry if becalmed. Members of the Dolphin clan seem to swim as if they were fish, and part of their wealth comes from the pearl divers that the family operate.

They live near Shinden Asashina. As part of an ancient reward from the Hantei,, they are allowed to have magistrates who oversee trade on Kawa No Kin, the river that flows into the bay with the tidal landbridge, thus flowing through Clearwater Village, Kyuden Hida, Kyuden Bushi, and related offshore traffic. The badge of the magistrates is shown above. The magistrates check the imposition of import duties and tariffs, pirates, law and order on the river: and can commandeer boats if necessary (but remember they belong to somebody). Quite how far inland they can go in the enforcement of their duties is open to debate, and unfortunately, the Dolphin clan is not a large rich clan, and has few ships of a its own.

As a reward for help in fighting off a pirate attack, I appointed my players Dolphin clan magistrates. I now have them with the ability to travel freely (on the river) in Scorpion and Crab lands (and beyond), but with limited resources and support. They have an ally (but not very powerful) in the form of the Dolphin Daimyo. The Crane Overlords may lend some assistance. It also makes it easy for me to introduce any new players to the group, either as new crew (Ronin), new magistrates or "minders" from another clan, whilst the boat is in their stretch of the river.

(No, I don't have any Dolphin family techniques worked out, but suspect names like Breaking surf, Eel strike. Waves at midnight, are used).

SHRINES & TEMPLES

Shrines and Temples One of my irregular gaming friends generated a PBM character, an Ize-Zumi with a liking for woodcarving, who decided as his first thing upon climbing down from the mountain, he would visit the foremost religious shrines and temples of Rokugan, to assist the process of enlightenment. (Eek, panic as GM starting to set in - where's that in the books ???).

From the basic map there are the following entries:

But since Rokugan is a large place, with a large population there must be others. Going through my books on Japan I came up with the following ideas for additional shrines and temples, since Japan seems to place much emphasis on the activity, unlike Western religious experience which is often based on the place.

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